N.J. Dems Gain One In House, But Lance Wins In District 7

STATE – New Jersey Democrats gained a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, but Republican state Sen. Leonard Lance defeated Democrat Linda Stender to hold on to Rep. Mike Ferguson’s seat for the G.O.P.

State Sen. John Adler (D-Camden) beat Medford Mayor Chris Meyers for the seat currently held by retiring Republican Rep. James Saxton, who was first elected to Congress in 1984.

Lance defeated Stender by more than 25,000 votes, giving him a larger margin of victory than Ferguson managed over Stender in 2006. Ferguson announced last year that he would retire at the end of his current term.

Incumbents won in all of the other N.J. House races on the ballot.

Democrats will hold eight of New Jersey’s 13 seats in the House after inauguration day.